West Virginia University employees and students can show their support for U.S. troops in Iraq by donating care package items at the Student Recreation Center beginning Tuesday, April 1.

Recreation Center staff will accept foodstuffs, toiletries, books and other items through Friday, April 25, at the facilitys front desk, said Pam Hagedorn, an administrative assistant coordinating the collection drive. Only new items will be accepted.

“As the states flagship university, we want to show our support for the troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom,”Hagedorn said.

As added incentive, the Recreation Center will allow students or employees who are members to bring a free guest if they donate five items on weekends (Friday-Sunday) during the drive, Hagedorn said. Employees who are not members may use the facility for free for the same donation on the same days, she added.

It costs $7 for non-members to use the center or for members to bring a guest.

Items collected during the drive will be turned over to the local American Red Cross chapter to ship to the troops, Hagedorn said. For security reasons, the Department of Defense is no longer accepting care packages from individuals other than family members, loved ones or close friends of military personnel.